Anthony's brief about March at WKMT - Piano lessons for kids

Over March, it has been a real eventful one with rehearsals, preparations for students’ exams and concerts. Along with the travelling (through busy London included) it goes to show how fast paced (and how much you need to think on your feet) being a musician can be.

Over one particular week, it’s amazing how you can get through a schedule and not realize how much you move. From rehearsing some energetic violin music and racing with the accompanist getting faster each time, to travelling and tutoring Essex, practicing piano material before zooming back to London to tutor and straight to a concert. It’s potentially a tiring rigorous routine but is a lot of fun with the people you meet and work with which makes is so much worthwhile.

The March Festival was a concert that had gone very quickly as soon as I immersed myself in it. From checking students had a practice time to taking students down and jumping in to duet or accompany- or emergency tune some violins by ear. It is something that will always keep you on your toes. A concert I enjoyed very much was the Hitomi and Sabrina Violin and Piano concert in St. Cuthbert’s. I had a front row seat (behind the pianist) and keeping a laser focus on where the piano part was before turning the page at the right time, as quick as possible- the very fast pieces even more crucial. It’s very enjoyable to get involved with as many things as you can find. Rehearsing with friends is one of best things that you can do. I often found with the change from one thing to the next, there is just enough time to think- more switching into each thing. On one piece by Sarasate, Introduction and Tarantella rehearsing something quick paced and changing (a bit like a London travel) with an accompanist almost forces me to make split second decisions, before moving to the next place. Some of my favourite kinds of music have built up in these experiences: classical, jazz, rock, pop, indie, folk, electronic, house, flamenco… Keeping connected with people and getting involved in different kinds of music is an enriching experience and will always keep us (and whoever is listening) entertained.